Japan Rolled Copper Output Drops by 3.1% in April

Japanese rolled copper output decreased by 3.1% to 86,160 tonnes in April from a year earlier, which decreased for 3 months in a row, announced by Japan Copper and Brass Association on Wednesday. The output decreased for major items including brass bar and copper tube when the users purchased materials only for immediate use and the demand was slow for automobile and semiconductor. The automobile demand was in adjustment when Japanese automobile sales decreased after the boom. The semiconductor demand was also slow though the demand was expected to recover in April. A rolled copper maker source said the order intake in April was the lowest in the year. The lower order could reduce the May output. The brass bar output decreased by 10.9% to 19,846 tonnes in April from a year earlier, which was the first drop to less than 20,000 tonnes in 3 months. The demand also decreased for gas appliances and water tap fittings along with slow demand for automobile and semiconductor. The copper tube output decreased by 3.6% to 15,430 tonnes in April from a year earlier. The demand decreased for showcase and building air conditioner while the home air conditioner demand was higher seasonally. The phosphor bronze sheet and strip output decreased by 1.2% to 4,898 tonnes in April from a year earlier due to lower demand for automobile and personal computer.